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Kurdish PKK fighters to begin disarming at key ceremony

China's economy likely grew 5.2% in Q2 despite trade war: AFP poll

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Wrexham rise showcases English football pyramid in US, says Anton Ferdinand
Wrexham's exploits since being bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have helped lift "the bonnet" on lower-league English football and boosted its popularity in the United States, former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand told AFP.
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Bull sharks linger in warming Sydney waters
Bull sharks are lingering off Sydney's beaches for longer periods each year as oceans warm, researchers said Friday, predicting they may one day stay all year.
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Canadian leaves a life behind to go help Ukraine
Vartan Davtian bought a ticket to Ukraine, on Wednesday leaving behind a job and a safe, quiet life in Canada to go defend the country in which he grew up.

Nadal shakes off foot trouble, looks toward Kyrgios clash
Rafael Nadal needed all he had to fend off Reilly Opelka at the ATP Indian Wells Masters, and he doesn't expect an easier ride from longtime rival Nick Kyrgios in the quarter-finals.

Netflix tests charging a fee to share accounts
Netflix on Wednesday said it is testing charging a fee to subscribers who share their accounts with people who don't live in their homes.

Nadal neutralizes Opelka to extend perfect start to 2022
Rafael Nadal battled past big-hitting American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) on Wednesday to push his 2022 record to 18-0 and reach the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters.

Klopp warns Liverpool's title momentum is a 'fragile flower'
Jurgen Klopp warned his Liverpool stars that their momentum in the Premier League title race is a "fragile flower" following Wednesday's vital 2-0 win at Arsenal.

Two dead in powerful Japan quake
Two people were killed and dozens injured in a powerful overnight earthquake that rattled large parts of east Japan and prompted a tsunami warning, authorities said Thursday.

Tuchel praises focus of Chelsea players as troubled holders reach Champions League quarters
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel praised his players for remaining focused amid the uncertainty about the club's future after they progressed Wednesday to the Champions League quarter-finals, where he said they would be "the team nobody wants to play".

Nadal neutralizes Opelka to reach Indian Wells quarter-finals
Rafael Nadal improved his perfect 2022 record to 18-0 on Wednesday, battling past American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7/3),

Brazil hikes key interest rate ninth straight time
Brazil's central bank raised its key interest rate for the ninth straight time Wednesday, as Latin America's biggest economy continues to reel from surging inflation, now exacerbated by the Ukraine war.

Citigroup to cover travel costs after US state abortion laws
Citigroup plans to provide travel benefits to workers who live in states that have passed laws to restrict abortion rights, such as Texas.

Root century puts England in command against West Indies
Dan Lawrence's last-over impetuousness cost him a maiden Test hundred but Joe Root's composed, unbeaten century guided England to a comfortable 244 for three at the close of the first day of the second Test against the West Indies in Barbados on Wednesday.

Man Utd's Pogba reveals burglary 'nightmare'
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed his house was burgled during his club's Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid while his children were asleep in their bedroom.

Villarreal humiliate Juventus to make Champions League quarters
Villarreal reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday after inflicting a humiliating 3-0 defeat on Juventus in Turin to go through 4-1 on aggregate.

Biden slams 'war criminal' Putin as Ukraine civilian horror grows
US President Joe Biden branded Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" Wednesday as the Russian leader's onslaught in Ukraine claimed more civilian lives, and a theatre where "hundreds" were sheltering was destroyed by bombing.

Liverpool sink Arsenal to boost title bid, record breaker Kane lifts Spurs
Liverpool moved within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester City as Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino inspired a crucial 2-0 win against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Villarreal humiliate Juventus to reach Champions League quarters
Villarreal reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday after humiliating Juventus 3-0 in Turin to go through 4-1 on aggregate.

Reality of relegation threat dawning on sinking Everton
Everton's Premier League clash with Newcastle on Thursday has been labelled the struggling club's "biggest game for 20 years" as they stare down the barrel of a financially ruinous relegation.

Troubled Chelsea ease past Lille into Champions League quarter-finals
Chelsea put their off-field troubles to one side to seal a place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday as a Cesar Azpilicueta goal clinched a 2-1 win at Lille in the second leg of their last-16 tie, and a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Global stocks rally as Fed hikes interest rates
Global stocks rallied Wednesday, bolstered by China's pledge to help stabilize markets and another pullback in oil prices as the US Federal Reserve announced its first interest rate hike since 2018.

Morikawa, Hovland chase World No.1 spot at PGA Valspar
Playing partners Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland, the world's number two and three players, will be chasing the summit of the global rankings at the US PGA Valspar Championship starting Thursday.

Iran nuclear deal 'close', Tehran frees captives as obstacles narrow
Washington said Wednesday it was "close" to a deal with Iran on reviving a 2015 pact that saw Western powers provide sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear programme, the latest sign of advancement following prolonged deadlock.

Tsunami alert lifted after powerful Japan quake
Authorities lifted a tsunami advisory and electricity was restored after a powerful 7.4-magnitude quake jolted northeastern Japan on Wednesday night in waters near the site of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Kecmanovic stuns Berrettini to reach Indian Wells quarter-finals
Serbia's 61st-ranked Miomir Kecmanovic shocked sixth-seeded Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 on Wednesday to book a quarter-final clash with Taylor Fritz at the ATP Indian Wells Masters.

Zelensky urges US help against Russia -- and gets $1 bn more weaponry
Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky made a desperate appeal for help against Russia to the US Congress on Wednesday, and within hours of the speech, President Joe Biden responded by promising $1 billion in new weapons to fight "war criminal" Vladimir Putin's invading army.

Chicago Cubs owners to lead bid to buy Chelsea as Coe joins the fray
Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family have confirmed they are leading a consortium that will bid to buy English Premier League club Chelsea, as British athletics great Sebastian Coe announced his involvement in a rival effort to purchase the Blues.

Ex-Ukraine tennis star Dolgopolov swaps racket for gun to defend Kyiv
Retired Ukraine tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov has returned home to take up arms and defend his native city Kyiv from the Russian invasion.

Kyrgios reaches Indian Wells quarter-finals as Sinner WDs
Australia's Nick Kyrgios became the first man into the Indian Wells ATP Masters quarter-finals on Wednesday when scheduled opponent Jan Sinner withdrew due to illness.

Cubs reach deal for Japanese slugger Suzuki: reports
Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who helped his country win Olympic gold last year, has agreed to a Major League Baseball deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

Mullins cries tears of joy, a last roar from Tiger Roll
Trainer Willie Mullins finally added a glaring omission to his trophy cabinet landing the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday with Energumene whilst another Irish racing legend Tiger Roll bowed out with honour at the Cheltenham Festival.

Late Witsel winner helps Dortmund cut Bayern's lead in Bundesliga
Axel Witsel fired in a late winner Wednesday as Borussia Dortmund ground out a 1-0 victory at Mainz to trim Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to four points.

LIV Golf unveils plans for eight-event series: reports
A long-discussed rival for the US PGA Tour unveiled details for a 2022 season on Wednesday, with a June start in London and four US events, according to multiple media reports.

Olympic champion Chen pulls out of world skating meet
Reigning men's Olympic and world champion Nathan Chen of the United States on Wednesday withdrew from next week's world figure skating championships in France.

Assured Root puts England in strong position against West Indies
West Indies missed another opportunity to remove Joe Root and the England captain took advantage of the second reprieve in guiding his team to 136 for two at tea on the opening day of the second Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Wednesday.

Zelensky urges US help against Russia -- and gets $1 bln more weaponry
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky invoked September 11 and Pearl Harbor in an impassioned address to the US Congress on Wednesday pleading for weapons to fight Russia -- and earning a promise from President Joe Biden just hours later for $1 billion in new arms.

'Lost everything': Ukrainians sail to new lives in Sweden
"We didn't even have time to get our things," says Ukrainian refugee Ludmila Nikiforova, one of hundreds fleeing the brutal conflict to Sweden on ferries from Poland every day.

US Fed raises interest rate in battle against high inflation
The Federal Reserve escalated its battle against the wave of prices increases battering the US economy on Wednesday by raising the benchmark interest even as it acknowledged the risk posed by the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine leader entreats US as Putin claims invasion on course
Ukraine's leader on Wednesday made an emotive appeal to US lawmakers for greater Western intervention against Russia, which insisted its invasion was going "successfully" despite the West rallying to Kyiv's aid with arms and sanctions.

Powerful quake rattles Japan, tsunami advisory issued
A powerful 7.3-magnitude quake jolted eastern Japan on Wednesday night, rattling the capital Tokyo and prompting a tsunami advisory for parts of the northeast coast.

Pop royalty from Sting to Madonna denounce Russian war
Condemnation by Madonna, a Russian tour cancelled by Iggy Pop, Pink Floyd pulling out of streaming platforms -- Western music stars have rallied to the Ukrainian cause.